Treating Tendonitis With CBD
Tendonitis causes nearly 70,000 people to miss work each year, so it's no wonder people are constantly trying to find treatment options to manage the pain that comes with this common condition. Upon its legalization, cannabidiol (CBD) products rose in popularity, specifically in the wellness world.
CBD's anti-inflammatory properties have led those suffering from musculoskeletal conditions like tendonitis to use various CBD products to alleviate pain and discomfort. Keep reading to learn more about CBD tendonitis treatment, the effects of CBD on this condition, and how you can start treating your symptoms.
What Exactly Is Tendonitis?
Tendinitis is characterized by inflammation of the connective tissues — also known as tendons — and is accompanied by varying levels of pain and discomfort. Tendonitis can be either short-term or long-term, depending on its severity. Although anyone can develop tendonitis, it is most commonly seen in patients who participate in repetitive actions that strain tendons.
Some of the activities that, if done repeatedly, can lead to tendonitis include:
- Yard work
- Painting
- Woodworking
- Scrubbing
- Tennis
- Golf
- Skiing
- Baseball
Aside from these strenuous activities, other risk factors for tendonitis include a patient being 40 years of age and older, poor posture, the presence of muscle-weakening diseases, and certain medications that cause tendon sensitivity.
Sudden movement can cause tendonitis. However, it is most likely to occur after repeated movements, which is why most adults find it happening due to work-related activities or after consistently partaking in strenuous hobbies like exercising, yard work, or painting.
Common Locations Where Tendonitis Develops
Tendonitis can occur anywhere in the body where a tendon is present. However, the most common areas for you to feel tendonitis pain are the base of the thumb, shoulder, elbow, hip, knee, and Achilles tendon.
Some of the specific types of tendonitis associated with these pain spots include:
- Achilles tendonitis
- Golfers' elbow
- Patellar tendonitis
- Tennis elbow
Tendonitis Symptoms
Tendonitis typically presents as an uncomfortable pain in the affected sight. Tendonitis pain is most often described as a dull ache that worsens with the movement of the injured tendon. You might also experience tenderness and mild swelling in the affected areas, which will subside once the tendonitis has been treated.
The protocol for treating the common symptoms of tendonitis often involves using the RICE method, which includes rest, ice, compression, and elevation. Upon diagnosis, a physician might also recommend using anti-inflammatory drugs and topicals for pain and a steroid injection if the tendonitis is not improving.
Chronic tendonitis often requires more invasive interventions and can eventually lead to surgery for a ruptured or torn tendon.
The Effects of CBD on Tendonitis
There are several cannabinoids, or compounds, found in cannabis, with CBD being the second most prevalent active ingredient. Due to its prevalence, CBD is one of the most studied compounds in cannabis and has been found to have healing properties that the wellness industry has capitalized on.
There are claims and studies surrounding the role of CBD in treating epilepsy, sleep disorders, symptoms of multiple sclerosis, anorexia, schizophrenia, and other conditions. Most commonly, however, CBD has been used to treat conditions like tendonitis, where pain and inflammation affect the body.
Chronic Pain Relief
CBD is often used as an alternative to stronger pain medications like opiates. CBD works together with your endocannabinoid system (ECS), which has been linked to several processes in the body, including chronic pain. When CBD is introduced to the body, it interacts with core receptors in your ECS to create a pain-relieving response.
Inflammation Reduction
CBD also interacts with your ECS to create an anti-inflammatory effect similar to that found with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Extensive studies have shown CBD's positive effects in treating inflammatory conditions, including tendinitis and arthritis. When CBD is introduced to your ECS, it has an immunosuppressive effect on macrophages and microglial cells, which are the cells that cause inflammation.
Using CBD To Help With Tendinitis
Several extensive studies have shown CBD's anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effects, specifically in sports recovery and musculoskeletal conditions like tendinitis and arthritis. CBD is a natural compound that works with your ECS to provide pain relief and act as an anti-inflammatory. This is crucial in the treatment of tendinitis, where pain and inflammation are the most prevalent symptoms.
Tendinitis is often not a serious condition and will subside with proper rest, and pain can be managed with over-the-counter pain medication. However, if you want to avoid some of the possible adverse effects of NSAIDs, or if you have long-term (chronic) tendinitis, you may want to opt for a more natural, less invasive alternative. CBD tendinitis treatment goes beyond oral ingestion, providing topical application options in the form of oils, creams, and balms.
Treat Your Tendinitis With CBD Oils, Topical Creams, and More
Tendinitis can become a burden in your daily life as you battle the inflammation and aching pain that can make completing basic activities challenging. Whether it's short-term or long-term, treating tendinitis can be crucial to continuing your regular activities and preventing the risk of further injuring yourself.
CBD is a natural alternative to other anti-inflammatory pain medication, working directly with your endocannabinoid system to stimulate pain-relieving chemicals and suppress inflammation-causing cells from activating. CBD may be taken by ingesting it or in a topical form by placing it directly on the affected area, making it a versatile treatment option.
At MuscleMX, we understand the limitations that can come with tendinitis and pride ourselves on offering a wide variety of CBD products to help ease your pain and discomfort during your healing process. We offer balms, oils, lotions, gummies, and product bundles that will have you on the road to feeling great again.
Shop our selection of CBD products today and start noticing a difference in the pain and inflammation brought on by your tendonitis.